feank



(N0 Mariel.)

H. FRAETK. WIRE TWISTING MACHINE.

N0. 321,492. Patented July i, 1885.

. tion.

nrrnn STATES Parent @rrrrcn.

HIMAN FRANK, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE 'LWVISTED \YIRE BOX STRAP COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-TWISTING MACHINE.

SZ ECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321/292. dated July 7, 1885.

Application filed June Q7. 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIMAN FRANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vire- Twisting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The machine forming the subject of this invention has for its object to twist two or more wire strands together, and at the same time form eyes or openings at intervals between the strands by outward bends of the same, the adjacent sections of the twisted wire separated by the eyes or openings being twisted in opposite directions.

The machine comprises a revolving head actuated by a system of gears, so as to be periodically rotated in opposite directions and to remain stationary for a short time when it changes its direction of rotation. This head is provided with separate passage-ways for the different strands, and has flaring guides at its ends to keep the strands apart as they enter and leave the same. Opposite the entrance end of this revolving head, at a considerable distance therefrom, is located a guide, through which the strands pass, the distance between the head and the guide being sufficient to prevent any injury to the strands as they are twisted and untwisted by the head continually changing its direction of rotation. The twists imparted to the strands at this part of the machine being very long and open, the angular rotation given the strands is so slight that torsional set is entirely avoided. Opposite the other end of the revolving head is located a holding and feeding device, which consists of a sliding block carrying an arm pivoted thereto, with one end projecting over the block, which end is provided with a stud, and is in close proximity to the end of the revolving head when the block is in the backward posi- The lower end of the arm is connected to and receives motion from the gearing. which causes it to first rock on its pivot, and then, with the block, to move backward and forward, when said arm comes in contact with two stops on the block, which limit the motion of the arm on its pivot.

The first action on the arm is to cause the (No model.)

stud on its end to enter between the strands as they leave the revolving head, and the actuating-gear of the head and this feeding device are so timed that the head rotates in one direction as the feeding device moves forward away from the head, thus twisting the strands between the head and the stud on the arm, the stud forming an eye in the twisted wire where it holds the strands apart. Upon a backward motion being applied to the lower end of the arm the stud on its end is first drawn out of the eye in the twisted wires, and then the block and the arm are moved backward as soon as the arm comes in contact with the other fixed stop, and during the backward travel. of the feeding device the head remains stationary. WVhen the feeding devices again commence to operate, the stud again enters between the strands, and the head is rotated in the oppo site direction, while the wires are again fed forward, thus twisting the strands in the op posits direction to that of the previous twist. The feeding device then moves back, as before, and the operation of twisting the wires first righthanded, then left-handed, and forming an eye between each of the different twists, is continual] y rep eated.

In the accompanying drawings, to which I will now refer to more clearly describe my invention Figure 1 is aview showing the manner in which the wire strands are twisted together, giving a longitudinal section of the revolving head. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 4 is an end view.

The revolving head is composed of the hollow shaft a, divided by a partition to form independent passages for the strands, the large hollow conical guide a having steel bushes through which the strands pass in entering the head, and the guide a at the other end also provided with steel bushes, which hold the strands as they leave the head. This head is fitted to rotate in the bearings 11 Z) of the main frame I), and on its hollow shaft (1- is secured the bevel-pinion c, which meshes into the bevel-wheel d, secured to the end of a short shaft, having its bearing arranged transversely to that of the shaft a in the standard 6 and fastened in the block j.

on the other end of this short shaft is secured the pinion e, which is driven by the segmental gear f, pivoted at f to one of the legs of the main frame. An oscillating motion is im parted to this segmental gear f through the medium of the crank-pin g on the side of the gear-wheel g and the connecting-rod f The gear-wheel g is on the end of the main shaft h, which is driven by a belt passing over the pulley h 911 its other end.

The continuous rotary motion of the main shaft h will impart an oscillating motion to the segment-gear f, and so cause the head a a a to rotate alternately in opposite directions with the same definite number of revolutions in both directions, due to the relative sizes of the segmentgear f, pinion e, bevel-wheel d, and bevelpinion 0,- but it is required that the head remain stationary for a short time when it changes its rotation from one direction to the other. To providefor this the end of the connecting-rodf which fits over the stud f on the segmental gear f, is slotted, so that the gear-wheel g moves a certain distance after its crank-pin has reached the center line of the connecting-rod f at the end of its backward and forward strokes before the segmental gcarf is moved, the slot in the end of the connecting-rod moving freely over the stud f 3 at these intervals of time. The rod f may be slotted at the end which fits over the crankpins 9, instead of at its other end, as described.

To draw the wire strands i i through the head a a a as it rotates in the two directions, a reciprocating gripping and feeding device is provided, which consists of the block j, fitted to slide on the guide is, forming a part of or secured to the frame I). On this blockj is pivoted the bent arm Z Z, the upper part, Z, of which is provided at its end with the stud m, so placed as to move to and from the top of the block j when the arm is rocked on its pivot. The stop-pin j, fastened in the block j, limits the movements of the arm in this direction by the partl coming in contact with it, the block then being moved forward by the action of the device connected to the end of the arm Z. Upon a retrograde movement being applied thereto the stud m is first moved away from the block j, and then the block with the arm is moved backward by the part looming in contact with the stop-pin j also the bent arm is connected to the top of the lever n by the link n. This lever n is pivoted to the frame at its lower end, and is actuated by the crank-pin 0 on the end of the shaft of the gear-wheel 0, working in a longitudinal slot in it. The gear-wheel 0 is driven by the The lower part, Z, of

the lower part of the slotin the lever n, which gives a quick return of the feeding device, the crank-pin g is moving away from one of its dead-centers, and the slot in the connectingrod f is sliding freely over the stud on the segmental gear f, thus leaving the head aa a at rest during the return movement of the feeding device. This feeding device is also provided with a stripping-plate, p, through an opening in the front end of which the stud m passes, and which is pressed down on the twisted wires by the arm Z when the stud m' enters the strands; and when the stud m is withdrawn from the eye formed by it after a section of the wire is twisted between it and the revolving guide a, during the forward movement of the feeding device,the strippingplate 1) is raised up by springs placed under it, or may be raised by the arm, so as to clear the previously twisted section held by it and to allow the feeding device to slide back over the last twisted section to take a fresh grip thereon.

- From the foregoing description of the construction of the machine, and by referring .to Fig. 1, the functions performed by it will be readily understood. The two wire strands it from the reels or coils first pass through the ringguide g, which is held in a standard or by other suitable means at a considerable distance from the guides a of the revolving head. The strands then pass through the guides a, the hollow shaft (1, and the guides at of the revolving head. In forming the lasttwisted section the stud m was in the eye 6 and moved from the position it occupies in this figure to the position occupied by the eye 1" when this twist was being made, the head rotating in direction as indicated by the arrow, and at the same time the strands were twisted between the guides a and the ring-guide q, as shown; but these twists are so open and long as not to in any way injuriously affect the strands. Now, when the stud m has moved back and entered between the strands, as shown, and commences to move forward again, the head commences to rotate in the opposite direction, and continues to do so during the forward motion of the stud m, and while rotating in this direction the strands between the guides a and ring guide q are untwisted, and are thus'alternately twisted and untwisted during the operation of the machine. These twists may be made in both directions by making them in each direction equal to one-half the number in the sections.

By means of amachine constructed to operate substantially in the manner set forth wire strands, even though of large size and somewhat hard, can be twisted together with eyes or openings formed at intervals between them, with all the eyes in one plane, which is an essential feature of such an article when used to bind boxes, &c., and for other purposes to which it is adapted.

Having now described the nature and operation of my invention, I wish it understood too that I do not confine myself to the use of the particular mechanical devices shown to im part the desired movements to the operating parts of the machine, it being evident that modifications may be made therein and equivalent operating devices used therefor to produce the desired results. So,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wiretwisting machine, the combination, with a rotating wire-carrier, and means, substantially as described, for causing it to periodically change its direction of rotation, of a reciprocating feeding device constructed and operated to draw the wires through the re volving head while said head is revolving in both directions, as set forth.

2. In a wire twisting machine having a revolving head constructed to twist the strands in opposite directions in the adjacent sections of the twisted band,the combination therewith of a reciprocating feeding device provided with a stud which passes between the strands in close proximity to the revolving head of the machine, whereby eyes are formed in the twisted wires atthe j unctu res of the opposite twists, substantially as set forth.

3. A feeding device for drawing the strands of wire through the revolving head of a wiretwisting machine, composed of the following elements, in combination: a sliding block, a bent lever=arm pivoted thereto and provided with a stud at its gripping end, two stops on the block between which the lower end of the arm plays, and actuating mechanism,connected to the lower end of the arm, by which the arm is caused to rock on its pivot and then, with the block, is reciprocated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. The combination, with a revolving head constructed to carry two or more wire strands in separate passages formed through it, and means for causing said head to periodically change its direction of rotation, of a holding and feeding device opposite one end of it to hold and feed the strands forward as they are twisted, and a guide opposite the other end of the head at sufficient distance therefrom so that the strands are not inj uriousl y affected by the reverse twists imparted to them between itand the head as the head revolves in the opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for making twisted-wire bands having eyes formed therein by outward bends of the strands of which it is composed,

and having the twist in opposite directions on the opposite sides of each eye, the combination of a revolving head, a reciprocating feeding device provided with aholding-stud to form the eyes, and operating mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the head is rotated in one direction while the feeding and holding device is moved to draw the wire strands through it, is brought to rest and stops while the feeding device moves back for a fresh grip, and is then rotated in the opposite direction as the feeding device again acts to draw the strands through it, and is then brought to rest, while the feeding device again moves back for a fresh grip, and so on.

6. In a wiretwisting machine, in combination, the revolving head a a a the sliding block j, the bent arm Z Z pivoted thereto, the stud m in the arm Z, and the stop-pins j and j, substantially as set forth.

7. In a feeding device for wire-twisting machines, in combination, the sliding block j, the stop-pins j j the bent arm Z Z, the stud m, and the strippingplatep, substantially as set forth.

8. In a wire-twisting machine, in combination, the revolving head a, a (E, the ring-guide q opposite the entrance end of the head, and the reciprocating feeding device j ZZ at opposite the other end, and mechanism, substantially as described, for actuating the revolving head and feeding device in unison, as set forth.

9. In combination, the sliding block j, provided with stop-pins j j the bent arm Z Z, provided with the stud m, the link a, the slotted lever a, and the crank-pin 0 on the shaft of 9Q wheel o',driven by the wheel g of the main shaft h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination, the revolving head a a a, the bevel-wheels c and (Z, the pinion e, the segmental gear f, provided with the stud f, the crank-pin g of the wheel 9 on the main shaft h. the connecting-rodf slotted atone end, the sliding block j, provided with stop-pins j j, the bent arm Z Z, provided with the stud in, the link a, the slotted lever n, and the crankpin 0 on the shaft of wheel 0, driven by the wheel 9 of the main shaft h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York, county and State of New York, this 24th day of June, 1884.

HIMAN FRANK.

Witnesses:

ALFRED Snnnroon, H. D. WILLLuis. 

